Geoff Kennedy’s Post

Google dominates search almost everywhere, but one country: China. Behind the 'Great Chinese Internet wall', the SE landscape is very different to what we know here. And I have analysed it from a SERP perspective. This SERP feature analysis is the second part of a two-part series that aims to prove that SEO is way more than just Google. In a times like now, when the tech giant might be actually losing some of their market share for the very first time, it's important to look elsewhere and have a wider understanding of how search engines beyond Google operate. Let me take you on a magical journey around SERP features of China's two top search engines: Baidu, Inc., the engine that holds the largest search engine market share in China by far, and Shenma, a mobile-only search engine owned by the Alibaba Group and tailored to ecommerce search. I would like to send a huge thanks to some fantastic SEO professionals who helped me put this research together: Geoff Kennedy (patient editor who made huge chunks of my text into something legible) and the whole Advanced Web Ranking. Emanuele Arosio 🚀 and Christina Xu, two top China Marketing Experts, who shared their thoughts on SE landscape in China that you can find within the article. Find the link to the article in the first comment. ------ Photo: my first trip to China - 11 years ago

The digital marketing landscape, particularly SEO, has significantly shifted with Google's recent updates. Last September's HCU update, followed by the March adjustment, was aimed at curbing spam, but unfortunately, it has also impacted many genuine websites. As I've reviewed affected sites, it's clear that even those without major issues have been penalized. The current state of SEO underscores the importance of not relying on a single plan or even a backup. Having multiple strategies in place is crucial - Plans B, C, D, and E - as the digital landscape constantly shifts beneath us. Moreover, if your site isn't a primary source of information, offering unique insights or essential products and services, the likelihood of sustaining substantial traffic from search engines is diminishing. We are moving towards an ecosystem where only the most authoritative and value-adding sites will thrive. The way forward is clear-we must continue to innovate and diversify our approach. By enhancing our site's authority and becoming a key resource in our niche, we can stay ahead of the game and thrive in this evolving digital landscape. Thinking ahead, can blue links completely disappear from Google? Will Google be able to find a way to monetize generative AI results? Has the time come to look beyond Google? The changes might be coming faster than we think. It might be another 3 to 5 years. And amidst all these changes, one brand is laughing all the way to the bank. #DigitalMarketing #SEO #GoogleUpdate #ContentStrategy #FutureOfSEO #InnovationInSEO #SearchEngineOptimization

Ever wondered why that cozy coffee shop down the street pops up first on your Google search for a caffeine fix? It's all about local SEO magic! 🌟 📍 Local SEO isn't just for the big players; it's your secret sauce to stand out in your neighborhood and attract those nearby customers. No need to shout from the rooftops; let your Google profile do the talking! 🗺️ Picture this: You're craving your favorite pizza, and voila! A simple search shows you the best pizzeria nearby—thanks to those clever location-specific keywords working their magic. 🔗 Backlinks from local websites and directories are like little arrows pointing at your business, signaling to search engines that you're the real deal. Who knew digital endorsements could be so powerful? 🛠️ Structured data markup might sound fancy, but it's like giving Google a roadmap to your business, guiding users to your virtual doorstep with all the essential details they need. ⭐ Reviews and ratings aren't just for show; they're the social proof that sets you apart from the competition. So go on, encourage those happy customers to spread the love! 🌐 Need a helping hand to navigate the local SEO maze? Dive into the world of RankScience for expert guidance in dominating your local search game. https://lnkd.in/gq2ypgzE

Search engines and SEO are not the primary factors for ranking on Google. Yes, it's all about the evolution over time—back when Yahoo dominated the content landscape. During that era, websites were organized in directories, neatly categorized. This system worked efficiently until the internet exploded with data. Yahoo was the pioneer to introduce the concept of a search engine, training it to retrieve relevant information based on user queries. However, Google's triumph over Yahoo was swift. Why did Google succeed? Yahoo overlooked the user's perspective, while Google identified this gap and prioritized user intent by delivering relevant search results. This is when Google introduced SEO, which rapidly gained traction, revolutionizing the market. SEO became a source of revenue for many and a cause of concern for others due to potential deranking. That's the journey from Yahoo's Website Directory to the era of Google SEO. For more insights on SEO, stay connected! Regards, Sana #seoservice #seopost #seoknowledge

"The SEO industry once again finds itself in an increased state of flux. Familiar cries of “SEO is dead” have returned. SEOs and agencies are - quite rightly - questioning what their future may look like." If you missed this article from Natalia Witczyk on the Advanced Web Ranking blog last week, you'll need to get caught up: 'SERP Features Beyond Google – What Are The Trends?' ⛓ HERE'S THE LINK: https://lnkd.in/dbBeUExD "A further increase in zero-click searches is imminent, not just from search features, but wider tools and AI functionality we likely haven’t even seen yet. As SEOs, we need to evolve and understand what our value is in this new landscape. In turn, we need to change how we communicate our value to clients and sell our services." Massive thanks to Natalia for all the research and putting the article together. And also to everyone behind all the great resources used: Dan Taylor ♒ @ SALT.agency Barry Schwartz, Greg Sterling, Danny Goodwin @ Search Engine Land, Jackie Davalos @ Bloomberg News, Kaitlynn Frank @ Search Engine Journal, Statcounter, Statista, Jademond Digital Please share far and wide!

Want to Dominate Local SEO in 2025? Here's the Truth No One Tells You This thought kept so many stuck for years. But here’s the truth about dominating local SEO in 2025: → Most “gurus” won’t tell you everything. → Trends change faster than you can master them. → Your competitors are already experimenting. → The best strategies are learned by doing. → Action beats perfection every single time. 👉 The top Local SEO experts I know: Tested new tactics before they felt confident. Adapted as Google algorithms evolved. Focused on providing hyper-localized value first. Got technical structured data, geo-tags, and all. Built success by learning live, not waiting. 📌 Because dominating local SEO isn’t about: Waiting for perfect advice. Following outdated checklists. Or playing it safe. It’s about being proactive. Experimenting with courage. And staying ahead even when it’s messy. Your local success story starts now. Will you take action? Want to be the local SEO authority in 2025? Start now! Let's discuss in the comments what's your biggest local SEO challenge? 📌 REPOST this ♻️ if you: → Are a supporter of my content 👏 → Learned something new in this post

Google search is evolving rapidly, some would say completely eroding Organic Search. It's certainly eroding traditional SEO, making it ever more important to adapt, and onboard new practices. Heard of isVariantOf schema? Earlier this year I introduced IsVariant schema to a client of mine, at the time it had only really just become the new 'thing' - it still is quite frankly, adoption has been slow. However, looking now at the impact this is having on a GLOBAL business (US Google search is ahead of the UK), it's clear to see the work has been a success when looking at the last 3 months YoY as product snippets (filtered in view) have grown and begun to impact overall site performance. The result? 📈 Clicks +87% 📈 Impressions +44% #seo Like eCommerce Organic Growth insights? Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eB-ymcB6

Local SEO: Is it Really Harder than Rocket Science? No. Why would you think that? Who said that? That’s ridiculous. But it’s probably more important for your business. So gather ye 'round, folks while I talk about Local SEO and why it matters for your business. Like all SEO, Local SEO isn't about fancy tricks or gaming the system. It's about doing the work that actually matters: 1. Accuracy: Get your info (name, address, phone number) right. Everywhere. It's not glamorous, but it works. 2. Consistency: Update your Google Business Profile (GBP) regularly. It's like brushing your teeth - do it often, or things get ugly and people keep throwing breath mints and gum at you. 3. Reviews: Respond to them. All of them. Even the ones that make you want to throw your phone across the room. 4. Content: Answer real questions from real local customers. For every potential customer that asks at least a dozen more have the same question and don’t ask. So use the Q&A section in your GBP to get those answers out there. 5. Be yourself: Your community wants to know the real you, not some corporate robot. That’s why all of those forms ask whether or not you’re a robot…at least that’s my theory. Now, for my landscaping and lawn care friends scratching their heads over SEO: Don't sweat it. These principles apply to you too. Your job is to make outdoor spaces beautiful - let's make sure your online presence isn't an overgrown mess. Here’s the requisite caveat though: None of this matters if your service is terrible. But for most local businesses, delivering great service is the easy part. It's translating that into online visibility that's the challenge. So, what's your biggest Local SEO headache? Drop it in the comments. Who knows, I might even have a solution that doesn't involve sacrificing your firstborn to the Google gods. #LocalSEO #GoogleBusinessProfile #SmallBizTips

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 6 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 I successfully ranked my abtechx.com blog post "Is Local SEO Dead in 2025?" within 6 hours! 🕡 Here’s how I did it: 𝑲𝒆𝒚𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉: I started by analyzing the right keywords. I looked at search volumes and trends to find out what people were genuinely curious about. 𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔: There’s a lot of buzz around the idea that local SEO is dying, especially after Google’s 2024 updates, which threw many websites' traffic off. This misconception created the perfect opportunity to address those concerns. 𝑪𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑼𝒑 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏: The blog focuses on demystifying the myth that local SEO is dead. I highlighted how algorithm changes have impacted websites but also emphasized that local SEO is far from obsolete. In fact, it’s evolving, not dying. By addressing the trending concerns and providing clear insights, I was able to get the blog ranked quickly. If you have any thoughts on local SEO or Google’s latest algorithm changes, I’d love to hear them! Let’s keep the conversation going. Here's the blog: https://lnkd.in/eg8_t5JZ

Interesting to see how the DMA is affecting Search and SEO in Europe. The biggest impact so far looks to be in the travel sector which is to be expected. curious to see how this continues over time. what are your thoughts on the DMA? https://lnkd.in/dApYqJjh